Play in the street, safely, at Atlanta Streets Alive

ATLANTA -- The biannual Atlanta Streets Alive event will take over several miles and loops of Atlanta streets on Sunday, October 7 from 2 - 6 p.m.

During the afternoon, cars will not be permitted, while around 15,000 people participate in varous activities, such as biking, running and walking, dancing, yoga, street hockey, four-square, hop-scotch, belly-dancing, bike polo, double-dutch and zumba.

The activities will run along miles of North Highland Avenue, Virginia Avenue and the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail. All activities are free to participate in, open to all activity levels and all ages.

The Shed on the Beltline will throw an after-party from 7 - 9 p.m., featuring music. Participants are invited to opening remarks, being made at 1:45 at the intersection of North Highland Avenue and Corley Street.

The Great Atlanta Halloween Bicycle Parade will ride along with the afternoon events, lining up at 1:30 and beginning at 2 p.m.

According to Rebecca Serna of the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, Atlanta Streets Alive seeks to shift dynamics of Atlanta that keep the city car oriented, with disconnected bicycle lanes, a backlog of broken sidewalks, and low rates of bicycle commuting and walking.

The activities are held to help shift Atlanta into being a proactive community that regularly participates in active transportation, physical activity and cultural and artistic endeavors.

Serna said, "Atlanta Streets Alive is a chance for neighbors, businesses and advocates for a better city to enjoy our neighborhoods and communities from a different perspective - on foot, from the street."